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Month: January 2010

I have noticed over the last 25 years or so, The American cultural landscape has been inundated with laws and the people who write, enforce and subscribe to them admonishing us to “be careful not to offend your neighbor” or in other words be Politically Correct – PC for short. PC has done far more damage to the American Christian than other act of terror ever devised. Yes, you heard me correctly. I define PC as an act of terror - psychological terror. It has compromised our message, corrupted our culture and has turned our government into a continually dysfunctional entity. It is in this that the Church has allowed this silent enemy to creep into everything the Kingdom is supposed to influence – government, culture and religion.

My question for the Church is where do we draw the line? When do we as representatives of the Kingdom become Biblically right instead of Politically Correct? I know that the question will be asked, “How have we not been Biblically right?” Consider this:

When your Pastor have said from the pulpit, “Homosexuality is not God’s best” and you agree with that statement.

When political candidates have publically stated they support abortion on demand and same-sex marriage and you as a Christian still vote for them.

When you use Romans 13:1-2 as a reason of not getting politically involved, at the same time ignoring verses 3-4 as proof why you should.

When the world asks you “Why is your world view better than mine?” and you’re more worried about offending them than telling them the truth?

If you can answer “yes” to any of these, you have been influenced by political correctness. PC and Biblical Truth are not two sides of the same coin. Rather, they are on opposite ends of the spectrum. They are as close together as the East is to the West. It is time for the Church to wake up. To know, understand, and walk in Biblical truth. To proclaim this Truth to a nation that has in essence, put the PC gun to their head and is ready to squeeze the trigger.

Will we “negotiate” with this nation to put the gun down, or will we allow the hammer of that gun to fall?

As I read and watch the news media coverage on the earthquake and the aftermath in Haiti, I begin to see similarities of the tragic devastation there, and the potential havoc that can come to our shores if the Church does not take its rightful place as a lamp to light the way.What do I mean by similarities? The first similarity is political. The people of Haiti elected a dictator – Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier in 1961. A doctor by trade, whose campaign was designed to “bring change to the government”. He was loved by the people who supported him. Kind of similar to a certain “community organizer” we all know. It was after he was elected, the people saw the “change” he was referring to. Since the Legislative branch there was merely a rubber stamp for his agenda – very similar to our own, he instructed the Parliament to change the Haitian constitution in order that the Parliament could vote him in as “president for life”. Could something like that be done here? Possibly. Since most of the states have been financially mismanaged, a lot of state dollars come from the federal government which can be used as a bargaining chip to force state legislators to change our Constitution to whichever way Obama wants. Secondly, the similarities would be economic. As it was in New Orleans after Katrina in 2005, there is a breakdown of essential social services there, including law and order. That has resulted in the looting of stores and homes by the terrorism of “gangs” that are afraid and angry at other people who have what they don’t. In either case, it would justify martial law to be put in place. The problem with martial law is that once installed, it never leaves. Third, there would be a religious similarity. How could this be? Since the first two have been accepted by the people (whether accepted willingly or by force is irrelevant). The people would be complicit into accepting the State as God and then a demand would be placed on the people that the State is to be worshipped as such. Such practices have been implemented in the historical past and do continue to the present day. Can this be prevented here? Yes. Only if the Christian who’s equally well versed in the Bible and the Constitution, who can take both books and lay them down side by side and declare to our countrymen, “It is in this, that our country should be governed”. It is not the responsibility of a single individual or a small group of people to do this. This is a charge that befalls all of us.

Our nation is truly at the precipice of plunging itself into historical oblivion. Shall we turn away from this cliff and walk back down this “mountain of despair” or do we dive headlong into the abyss of political, economic and religious chaos, never realizing our potential for greatness, but selling ourselves short for a cheap “high” of fame and notoriety?

It has only taken 50 or so years for the United States to go from the world’s biggest producing nation to becoming the world’s biggest consuming nation. For decades we as a nation have looked at credit as a right and not as a tool. We have carried a balance like it was a badge of honor. The bigger the balance, the more “prosperous” we were. All the while not thinking that there will be a payday – someday.

Government can not do anything without the consent of the governed. We carried balances on our personal credit cards because we allow it. That type of thinking has transferred to our respective state capitals as well as Washington, D.C.. Why? Because governments consists of people, not ideologies. It is the people who we trust, and those that have proven to be trustworthy that implement those ideologies. Since the 1960’s, government have proven to be untrustworthy because of the people in it. From the “war on poverty” started by Johnson, to the government “raiding” of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid leaving IOUs in the fund in the 1970’s, to the present day, We as a nation are being forced into slavery – economic slavery.

It is my understanding that there are 30 million or roughly 10% of the nation is either unemployed, partially employed (what is commonly called the working poor) and/or on some type of government assistance – food stamps, Section 8 Housing, etc. How could something like this happen in a single generation? The answer is shocking, yet quite simple. We forgot who we are.

Like an attorney, in order to find the root cause of a matter you must go back to the beginning, or in lawyer speak, original intent. Who is an American? One that believes in God, self-governance, self-reliance, and charity toward others, to name a few. One thing the Founding Fathers recognized is that if God is in control of you, laws would be unnecessary. Laws are only there for those who choose not to be controlled by God. Does it mean that the Founding Fathers were perfect? No. They had flaws just as all of us do. As an example, they owned people as physical slaves. However, that was rectified by the 14th Amendment. What they did know is that government by design was supposed be limited. The 10th Amendment is a prime example of this. The 10th Amendment says this:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”.

Our federal and to some extent, state governments were never designed to be as far-reaching as they are. Yet they are in the shape they’re in by our choice, not God’s will. It is time to rein in those who are in power or show them the door. I know they are some who say “Pray for those in authority”. While yes, that is true to a certain extent. However, if you do not understand the purpose of something, abuse will be inevitable. Many of our leaders do not understand or have simply have forgotten why they are in the position they’re in. It is time to remind them why they are in office. Whether we set up an appointment with them to have a discussion, all the way to voting them out of office. It is our responsibility to make it known to them clearly that we do not approve of the position you are putting us in. That we are in control of the government, not the other way around. That through our choice, not your laws we are a free nation under God, that we will serve Him as we see fit and that our government will reflect that service. Proverbs 29:2 says:

“When the righteous are in power the people rejoice. When the wicked beareth rule the people mourn.

We all seem to make New Years Resolutions. The resolution themselves are as diverse as the ones who make them. The spectrum can range from losing weight, to quitting smoking, to even spending more time with God.

I suggest a new resolution for the Church: Getting Lasik surgery. Not for your natural eyes, but your spiritual ones. Once you receive this “surgery”, religious “glasses” will no longer be necessary. Why? Because you will be able to see things clearly. Where there is clarity, purpose emerges. When purpose emerges, plans come into focus. When plans come into focus, action can be taken. The action that is taken is not always spiritual. It may start in that direction, but it does not always finish there. It is in this, the Church gets hung up.

In this new year, it is imperative that the Church get physically involved with solving the nation’s problems. I know that some may think this is impossible. However, with God, all things are possible. As the adage goes, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”. We are not called to do the same thing. However, we are called to do something. There are even times we are called to the same thing, not just at the same time. Even when you think you can’t solve the problem, you can lend your talent and support to the solution. In short, every problem that we have is not caused by “the devil”. So the solution may not be always spiritual.

Getting involved with government or a group outside of the Church maybe just the ticket for the world to see Jesus. You may not get a chance to “preach” the Word, but when you get involved with the world you will have to know the Word. Because when ideas begin to be exchanged, you have to know how apply Scripture correctly. In other words, how to rightly divide the Word of Truth in the particular setting that you’re in.

Our mission is still to preach the Gospel. The methods may change. Even the content may change. However, the context – a Biblical world view, should never change. This is what I implore all Christians to do. To establish a Biblical world view within themselves, then establish and promote it where they are. It is in this, that the Kingdom of God will be established on Earth as it already is in Heaven.

We are finally here! The completion of the first decade of the new millennium. To that end I believe a lot of changes are in store. Not only for the world, but especially for the Church.

The change that I believe will happen for the Church is a reminder from the Lord of why we are here. Although preaching the Gospel and saving souls should be our top priority, like any other war, the supply lines are just as important as the front lines. In order for the war to be won, proper infrastructure must be installed and maintained. I know that people will say, “Prayer is our infrastructure”. Prayer is an important component. However, it’s not the only one. Consider this:

Prayer alone does not proclaim truth.

Prayer alone does not expose error.

Prayer alone does not protect nor provide freedom.

Prayer alone does not change economies (ours or God’s).

Prayer alone does not change laws on paper.

Prayer alone does not get righteous people in office.

Prayer alone does not get wicked people out of office.

Prayer alone does not shape the culture to tell them what is right and what is wrong.

When we as members of the Church endorse and support those who are willing to take up the cause for Christ in non-spiritual arenas such as:

Government

Education

Finance

Media

Law

Business

Religion (yes, religion)

Then if we add prayer and wisdom through the Holy Spirit, we will see the fulfillment of Matthew 6:10: “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is (already) done in Heaven”.

It is when we alldo this, we will then see Jesus. Why? Because the “spots” will then be removed, and the “wrinkles” will be ironed out.